But on Tuesday, at the direction of the judge, both men were found not guilty when the prosecution said it would offer no further evidence.

'Review needed'

Outside court, Mr Breeze said: "I would say there has been a big blunder.

"I would say there's been a catalogue of errors and that it needs looking into.

"Norfolk Constabulary's major investigation team needs a root and branches review by the chief constable.

"I've already written to him asking for that."

On Tuesday night Norfolk police said the investigation had been detailed and meticulous, and that the allegations of fraud were very serious and involved large amounts of public money.

Eastern Daily Press, 17/06/2009

Fury as £2.5m NHS fraud trial collapses

By Emily Dennis

Norfolk police, the NHS and Crown prosecutors were accused of “destroying” the lives of two talented and decent men after the former bosses at a psychiatric hospital were cleared of fraud charges.

Andrew Breeze, 53, former chief executive of Cawston Park private hospital near Aylsham, launched a scathing attack over the way an investigation was carried out into allegations that he and a colleague scammed the NHS out of £2.5m with “fantasy charges” for patient care. He accused police officers of acting “disgracefully” and claimed the case built against him was “nothing short of a conspiracy”.

The trial, which has cost taxpayers a sum estimated at six figures, collapsed yesterday and Mr Breeze and the hospital's financial director Dominic Wilson, 36, were cleared of conspiring to defraud primary care trusts (PCTs) after the prosecution offered no further evidence.

More at http://www.edp24.co.uk:80/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED17%20Jun%202009%2008%3A14%3A04%3A163